Self and john w



E. I. PROTHROW.

(No Model.)

CARRIAGE TOP.

No. 247,684. Patented Sept. 27,1881.

UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

EDWARD I. PROTHROW, OF COUNCIL GROVE, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR T HIM- SELF AND JOHN W. NOLAND, OF SAME PLACE.

CARRIAGE-TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,684, dated September 27, 1881.

Application filed Augusto, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD LPRorHRow,

of Council Grove, in the county of Morris and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carriage-Tops; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide means for enabling the occupant of a buggy or of a carriage having afolding top to let down the said top in an easy, safe, convenient, and expeditious manner, and without the ne' cessity of reaching out between or around the bows, or of getting entirely out of the vehicle, as heretofore. This object I attain by means of the device hereinafter described, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, in which the figure is a perspective view of a buggy-t p with my device attached.

Let A indicate the ordinary body of a buggy, and B the folding top, which may be applied to and supported by any desired number of bows. In the drawing I have represented four bows, the second of which, 0, constitutes the usual pivot-ed support for the remaining hows, the front one, 0, being pivoted to the second, the third, 0 being likewise pivoted to the second, and the fourth or rear how being pivoted to the third. This particular arrangement of bows is, however, immaterial, and constitutes no part of the invention.

The devices for enabling the occupant to let down the top are as follows:

D indicates a bow-shaped rod, which is bent to conform to the under side of the top, and which is arranged against the same, so as to be parallel with the upper portions of the bows and transverse with respect to the top of the buggy. Thisbow-shaped rod D is bent outwardly under the edge of the top, and just in rear of the upright portions of one of the bows, so that it will pass through slots or openings formed in suitable plates or castings, E, that are secured in any convenient way to the said how. The ends of the rod are then bent downwardly and then outwardly from the sides of the buggy, so as to form a crank on each side thereof. The horizontal ends 01 of said rod lie against the jointed topsupporting braces F when the top is raised, and the said braces, which are constructed as usual, are straightened out.

It will be observed that the vertical portions of the rod which are below the buggytop lie in planes between the bows and the braces, whereby, when the top is raised, the braces can be straightened out, so that the said horizontal ends d of the rod will lie against the braces at points preferably just above the joints thereof. Now, if the occupant take hold of the bent bar or rodDabove him or her, as the case may be, and push forward upon the same, it is evident that the rod will turn in its bearings formed by plates E, and in turning its cranked ends, bearing upon the jointed braces, will break the joints and force back the top to a certain extent. By now grasping a handle-knob or analogous device, G, thatis preferably secured to the inner side of bow O, and drawing upon the same, the top can be readily let down in a simple and effective manner, and without giving up the reins. g

H H indicate two springs, which may be of rubber or of metal, both of which connect with the under side of the buggy-top and with the rod D, one being on each side of the same, so that after it is released by the operator it will be restored by the spring action to its normal position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with a folding vehicletop, of the device for breaking the joints of its supporting-braces, the same consisting in arod passing under the top and having its ends extended out from the sides of the vehicle and bent to form cranks, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a folding vehicletop, of the rod passing transversely under said top and having its ends extended out from the sides of the vehicle and bent substantially into crank shape, the bearings through which said rod passes secured to one of the bows, and the jointed braces arranged to be acted upon by the ends of said red when it is op- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as erated, substantially as described. my ownI affix my signaturein presence of two 10 3. The combination, with the folding vehiwitnesses. ale-top and its jointed braces, of the rod D,

5 formed and applied substantially as setforth, EDWARD PROTHROW' and the springs secured to the top and to the Witnesses: rod, for the purpose of bringing the rod to its JOHN T. STEVENSON,

normal position.

GEORGE DOWNING. 

